10-tonne Northern Territory landmark stolen

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"It's a rich part of our history, gone," Gerry Wood, an
independent Northern Territory MP, said yesterday. "It could only
happen in the NT."

Mr Wood and other residents of the small town of Howard Springs,
35 kilometres south of Darwin, are furious about the disappearance
of their 10-tonne, 115-year-old steel railway bridge.

Thieves brazenly drove a crane and four-wheel-drive vehicle to
the bridge, which is 50 metres off a track on the town's outskirts.
Using oxyacetylene equipment they cut the steel uprights and bridge
spans and used the crane to load the steel on to a getaway
vehicle.

The bridge was part of the North Australian Railway, which
closed in 1976. Built mainly by Chinese workers in the 1890s, it
was Darwin's most important transport link to the Territory's gold
mining towns.

During World War II it also transported vital munitions,
supplies and troops.

Mr Wood, 54, said he was shocked by the crime which he believes
was committed by professionals. "Look there," he said, pointing to
footprints. "They were wearing industrial boots. The only people
around here who don't wear thongs are professionals."

Mr Wood said that recently two similar bridges along the 500
kilometre disused track had disappeared in similar crimes.

"People think they can get away with stealing our heritage
because it's a little bit isolated out here," Mr Wood said. "But we
can't let them get away with this sort of thing."

Mr Wood will ask the NT Government to offer a reward to help
solve the crime.

There were no police experts at the scene yesterday, but NT
police said they were on the case.